The first of Maine’s controversial $300 “affordability” checks are now in the mail, nearly seven months after Gov. The money will not be distributed through direct deposit, even to residents who previously received state tax refunds electronically. The checks originated with an affordability agenda Mills unveiled on Jan. 27 as Maine residents continued to face rising prices for groceries, gasoline, housing, utilities and other necessities. Republicans pushed alternatives that included conforming Maine’s tax code to federal tax reductions and temporarily suspending the state gasoline tax. One proposed amendment would have eliminated the affordability checks and used money from the stabilization fund to suspend Maine’s gasoline tax for 60 days.